This year marked the start of 3 new denominations on our coinage, the three cent piece (which would not have enter circulation until 1851), the gold dollar and the double eagle and the first patterns made by James B. Longacre.

The three cent designs were very simple such as on the J113/P127 below.

These two dies were combined with the regular seated liberty half dime obverse to produce addtional designs. Some of the strikings are believed to be restrikes made in the late 1850s to mid 1860s.

Hand engraved, not die-struck, gold dollars were produced by Longacre J115/P130.

The most famous of all patterns of this year, however, is the double eagle J117/P132.

Only a single example is confirmed today and is part of the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution. It is one of the 2 or 3 most valuable American coins.

An example struck in brass was later made in the 1870s for collector Robert Coulton Davis but it has not been seen since its last auction appearance the George Woodside sale of 1892.

Another neat item is one of 2 cardboard splashers for the 1849 open wreath reverse gold dollar JA1849-3/P3100. They are in the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Photos courtesy of Superior, Bowers and Merena, the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution and the Library Company of Philadelphia.